It’s in the Mix – The Transformation of Downtown St. John’s

Henry Bell Developments LP, the entity behind the renovation of Duckworth Street, St. John’s, Newfoundland, will soon be starting the renovation work on the building to create 77 new apartment suites which will be branded as MIX RESIDENCES.

“Our design team, led by Lydon Lynch Architects, has been working for the past couple of months to finish the drawings for permit submission and we anticipate the construction process will start this summer,” says Bill Hardman of Henry Bell Developments. Lydon Lynch has been involved in the design of such award-winning projects as Bishops Landing and the Halifax Farmers Market on the Halifax waterfront. The MIX design will showcase their signature clean and contemporary lines.

When completed, MIX will have the added height of three stories above the existing structure which will make it the tallest residential building in downtown St. John’s, transforming the city skyline. At the same time, the footprint of the building will be expanded with a glass curtain-wall and a metal-cladded addition to the west. That expansion will blend with the traditional architecture of the existing building to create a modern aesthetic and a bold statement for persons approaching the building from the west.

“Our ideal tenant will be anybody who appreciates an urban lifestyle and all the benefits it offers.” Hardman says. Within walking distance to the major downtown office buildings, the waterfront, downtown restaurants, and the Mile One Centre, residents in the MIX apartment building will have all the convenience and accessibility of a downtown hotel at a fraction of the cost.

Each unit in MIX will include a full kitchen and bathroom, washer/dryer, French balconies as well as ample in-premise storage. Additional building features include two high-speed elevators, a fitness room, and a penthouse-level multi-purpose room providing gourmet cooking facilities while offering outstanding views over the western city skyline. Twelve thousand square feet of commercial/retail space will round out the grade levels of the MIX building.

When coupled with MetroPark – a new parking facility opening across the street later this summer and providing parking to our tenants – the new MIX RESIDENCES will continue the transformation of this under-utilized part of the downtown. The final building to be renovated in this district, the former CBC building, is envisioned to be renovated into 52 condominium units with work scheduled to start soon.

“We are excited about this project and understand that it is an important part of the revitalization of downtown St. John’s,” Hardman concludes. We look forward to welcoming our first tenants in the MIX building late in 2015.